Ice-machine



(NoModel.)

T. H. BUTLER.

10E MACHINE. 110.461,233. .13,1891.

Levi-:L of uquo,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. BUTLER, or HARRIsBUae, PENNSYLVANIA.

ICE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 461,233, dated October 13, 1891.

Applicatll filed December 23, 1890. Serial No. 375,589.v (No model.)

Z'o all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, THOMAS H. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to ice-machines; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts, hereinafter fully de-V scribed and claimed, whereby the aqua-ainmonia is converted into gas and freed from entrained watery vapor.

The figure in the drawing shows a front view of the retorts and the rectifier in Vertical section.

A series of retorts A B C is used to convert the aqua-ammoniainto gas. The series preferably consists of three retorts,butadditional retorts may be added, if desired. Each retort is provided with a similar steam-heating coil 3. yThe strong aqua-ammonia enters the retort Athrough the pipe 0 which discharges it onto the top of the coil 3.

A is the outlet-pipe from the bottom of the retort `A, which pipe is connected to the bottoni of the retort B. The retort B is provided with a stand-pipe b, connected with the pipe A and extendingupward to about the top of the coil 3.

B is the outlet-pipe from the bottom of the retort B, which pipe is connected to the bottom of the retort C. The. retort C is provided with a stand-pipe c, connected with the pipe B and extending upward to about the top of the coil 3, but terminating a little below the level of the top ofthe pipe b.

C is the outlet-pipe from the retort C, which pipe conducts the weak aqua-ammonia to the equalizer in the usual manner.

The aqua-ammonia is maintained at the same level in all the retorts and sinks to the lower parts of each of them as the gas is driven out ofl it. The addition of a small quantity of strong aqua-ammonia to the retort A causes a portion of the partially-weakened aqua-ammonia to pass to the retort B, and a portion of the still weaker ammonia from the bottom of the retort'B is transferred `to the retort C.

Steam or other heating-fluid of different 55 temperature is preferably used in the coils 3, the hottest steam being ,applied where it will do inost service and waste steam of low temperature being used-where it maybe applied advantageously.

D is the central gas-pipe secured to the top of the retort B, and d d are gas-pipes which connect the said central pipe with the top ot` the retorts A and C, respectively.

E is t-he rectifier consisting of a cylindrical shell provided with the top e and having its lower'end secured by the flange c to the bottom piece E. The bottom piece E is formed integral with or is otherwise firmly secured to the gas-pipe D, and fis a tube-plate below the 7o top of the said pipe and having its periphery united to the bottom piece E.

F is a hollow drum in the upper part of the rectifier,'and f are the tubes which connect the hollow spaces of the bottom piece E and the drum F.

G are fiat rings provided with central passages g, and G are circular disks having the annular passages g between them and the shell. The rings and disks have holes for the 8o passage of the tubes and are arranged alternately one above the other inside the rectifier'. These rings and disks oblige the gas to take a tortuous course through the rectifier and bring every portion of it into repeated contact with 8 5 the tu nes. The cntrained watery vapor condenses on the tubes and falls into the space h on top of the tube-plate, and h is a drainpipe for conducting the water vback into the retort B'. 9o

I is the gas-outlet pipe connected to the top of the rectifier, and c' isA the inlet-pipe for strong aquaammonia from the equalizer, which pipe is connected to the bottom piece E. The aqua-ammonia from the equalizerg5 is heated in its upward passage through the tubes f', and i is a pipe connected to the drum F, which pipe passes out through the top of the rectifier and has its other extremity connected with the inlet-pipe c of the retort A. roo

That I claim isl. In an ice-machine, the combination, with a series of vertical retorts, each provided with a steam-heating coil, of an inlet-pipe discharging ontothe top of the coil of the first retort, pipes connecting the bottoms of each two next adjacent retorts, an outlet-pipe connected to the bottom of the last retort, and a stand-pipe in each retort except the first, each stand-pipe being shorter than the stand-pipe inthe retort next above it in the series and connected .to the inlet-pipe of its own retort, whereby the gradually-weakening ammonia which sinks to the bottom of each retort may be transferred to the upper part of the ret-Orts next below in the series and a constant common level of liquor maintained in all the retorts, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ice-machine, the combination, with a series of retorts, of a rectifier secured to the top of one of the retorts, gas-pipes connecting the said rectifier with the remaining retorts, and a pipe connecting the strong aqua-arnmonia spaces ofthe rectifier with the inletpipe of the first retort of the series, substanri-ally as set forth.

In an ice-machine, the combination, with the cylindrical shell of the rectifier, provided with a top and a gas-outlet pipe at the top, of the bottom piece secu red to the said shell and provided with a hollow space, a tube-plate y anda central gas-pipev passing through the said drum and ypassing through the top of the I rectifier, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an ice machine, the combination, with the shell of the rectifier, provided with hollow spaces at top and bottom for strong aqua-amlnonia. and the vertical'tnbes connectingthe said liquor-spaces, of the central gas -inlet pipe passing through the said bottom space, the gas-outlet pipe at the top of the rectifier,

and the alternating series of rings and disks Witnesses:

R. S. CARE, MILTON M.' LEMER. Y 

